Erika


    My cousin and alpha, Leo, picks up his mate from the ground. She passed out after defeating every minor demon in the forest and I can see the pride in Leo''s eyes. He hugs Nora to his chest with a fond expression on his face. "Let''s take you home," Leo whispers and stands up with Nora''s legs dangling over his muscr forearms.


    I stare at the sleeping silver wolf in his arms. Seeing Nora freeze every enemy was incredible, although I suspect my rejected fairy mate had something to do with the magic she wielded.


    The fairy in question is sitting on the ground, spreading a pair of blue, glittering wings before taking off to follow Leo. His eyes briefly regard me, but when I re back, his expression turns sheepish. "What a friendly mate I was given..."


    Leo snorts before looking at my fairy mate. "ke, right?"


    "Yes, that''s my name."


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you," Leo says calmly, eyes son the hovering fairy in the air. "I don''t like fairies very much. No offense, but your kind is usually thunderous and too happy-go-lucky for me to get along with, but..." his eyes travel to Nora, and he smiles. "What you two aplished tonight was amazing, and I must thank you for helping Nora awaken her silver wolf. You''re one of the good ones. Thank you."


    ke beams back. He even bows in courtesy. "The pleasure is all mine... But if you want to REALLY thank me, I wouldn''t mind staying the night at your ce. I don''t have any living arrangements in this world."


    "Stay for as long as you want," Leo offers, and finally, his attentionnds on me. "This is my beta and cousin, Erika. I know you two are mates, and she rejected you, but... I''m sure she can show you to a free guestroom inside the mansion. On the other hand, I need to hurry and find a bed for Nora. My mate must be exhausted from her awakening."


    I look at Nora and then meet Leo''s intense eyes. I''ve never seen him so concerned before. He usually keeps it all together and never shows a hint of emotion. Angels are usually only all about delivering justice, but now, Leo looks torn. He holds his mate tightly to his chest, and there is actual affection in his gaze.


    Interesting.


    My cousin, who has shown no interest in any living creature before Nora, has fallen in love.


    "Of course," I bow to show my respect. "You can leave the fairy with me, alpha. Go and take care of your mate."


    "Thank you."


    Leo spreads his white wings and takes off. There is angelic blood in our family, but I''ve never been able to sprout wings. My wolf is white, though, and I''m a talented warrior.


    Fighting is in my DNA, and my fierceness has earned me the role of beta in the Snowmoon pack. I''m relentless, and I seldom show any emotions. I imagine that way of living is how I''ve managed to stay in my position despite being a woman.


    "Uh, I''m sorry for asking this, but... Would you mind letting me sit on your shoulder? I know you rejected me as your mate, yet I see no other option since I''m exhausted."


    I snap my eyes to ke hovering next to my face. A grimace crosses his lips, and he raises his hands in surrender at my narrowing eyes.


    Typical-his face is pretty. It annoys the crap out of me that the bastard is both handsome and attractive.


    ke has porcin skin and long ck hair to frame his high cheekbones. A blue dress hides his body, but I''m guessing the fairy is ripped underneath it. Not that it matters. He is way too small for me.


    We will never be a couple.


    But I''m aware ke helped save the situation here today, and Leo seems to like him-I will try to be on my best behavior.


    "You can sit on my shoulder, but don''t think it means anything special for even a minute. I do not intend to ept a tiny, little fairy as my future mate and husband."


    An expression I don''t quite understand hits ke''s features. His eyes rake me up and down, and his lips curl into something resembling amusement. I wonder why.


    "You know," kends on my shoulder and smirks at me. "Judging a book by its cover is a bad thing."


    I begin walking, nodding my head at pack members leaving the forest, yet managing to glimpse down at ke to show him that I didn''t ignore his words.


    "In most cases, yes, judging a book by its cover is a bad thing."


    ke breathes augh. "You can admit that, yet you rejected me as your mate from the start?"


    Anger swells in my chest, yet I somehow keep my voice calm. "I''m the beta of the Snowmoon pack. It''s important that I show no weakness, and epting a fairy as my mate would give my fellow packmates the wrong impression." "Ah, I get it now. You rejected me because you think your pack members wouldn''t respect you if your mate is weak?"


    "Correct."


    "Interesting..." ke chuckles. "So if it turned out that I''m not as weak as you thought I was, you would regret rejecting me?"


    Huh?


    What is this fairy getting at?!


    I frown at him, hating how my skin turns a few degrees redder seeing the stupid smile on his face. "That would never be the case since I doubt a fairy could be powerful, but to answer your question: no, I wouldn''t regret it." "Why?"


    "Well, because you''re a tiny glittering thing-how would things even work between us!"


    Heughs out loud. "You''re so shallow!"


    "No, I''m stating the truth!"


    ke snorts in amusement and his perfect set of teeth glimmer in the moonlight. "I have you know that I can... Wait, I probably shouldn''t say anything. It''s funnier if you find outter." "Find out what?" I demand.


    "I won''t tell you," he winks at me. "Anyway, mind if I sit closer to your neck? It''s freezing outside, and you werewolves are so warm."


    "Uh, sure?"


    For some strange reason, I blush when ke creeps closer to my neck. I can barely feel his weight physically, but mentally? I''m hyperaware of him and his touch.


    He leans against me, and butterflies swarm my belly. What the heck? It truly baffles me how I''m reacting here. ke is a fairy-I should be immune to his charm, but I''m not.


    I glimpse down at him and find him rubbing his cheek against the sensitive skin on my neck. He breathes a contentedugh. "The scent of your mate truly is soothing..."


    I swallow thickly. "You... You''re not supposed to get all cuddly with me. I rejected you, remember?"


    "Mhm, you could also have swatted me off when I did that, but you let me rub against you."


    My face heats to a thousand degrees. "It would be impolite, and I would never raise a hand against a guest of my alpha."


    "Sure, sure, whatever you say..." ke chuckles in delight. "I bet you''re a closeted cuddler, though. You might act all prude and proper, but you like affection, don''t you?"


    Anger ticks against my neck. "I hate affection." I''ve never let a man as much as hug me. I''ve never even been kissed. Thest guy who tried ended up with my foot in his nuts. "I love affection. I''m a big teddy bear."


    "Big?" I snort. "I hate to tell you this, but I would beg to differ."


    "Oh, my wannabe hardcore mate actually has a sense of humor, huh?" ke pokes me with his elbow, grinning. "Show me more of that side, and I might ask you out, Erika." "Ha, as if I would go out with you! You''re not my type!"


    To my surprise, ke doesn''t look butthurt after the tone I used. Instead, heughs yet again.


    "Then what is your type?" ke asks.


    "Hmm..." I tap my chin. "Are we talking personality-wise or physical attributes?"


    "Physical."


    Ha, ke walked straight into that one. I can spite him now, say that I prefer men who look the opposite of him.


    "I like big, strong, tall men with pecs, and oh! I love a round, shapely butt as well!" I look down at ke, shrugging. "I''m sorry. You must be disappointed with my answer, but you''re not what I''m looking for. You''re pretty, but... You know..." Again, ke shocks me byughing. He crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head. It confuses me. I had expected him to call me shallow, but his lips are caught in a smile.


    "You have a great taste," ke winks at me. "I see what I can do about that, and hopefully, I can convince you that you made a mistake by rejecting me right off the bat."


    I blink down in confusion, opening the door a little dazed. ke sure is confident, but I have to end this madness. It saddens me to break his heart again, but he needs to stop dreaming and thinking he has a chance with me.


    I clear my throat before speaking. "I have no clue what you''re talking about, but it ain''t going to happen, buddy. You and I won''t be an item. Stop dreaming."


    "Dreaming?" ke whistles. "You''re sassy-I like that, and it makes me even more determined to prove you wrong. Because Erika? You and I will be a couple, whether you like it or not."


    Iugh. This guy is insane and weirdly confident. "I doubt it, but keep dreaming, short stuff, keep dreaming"